Operational Contract Management Lead (Synergy Programme)

Government Recruitment Service; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A government service agency in Sheffield is looking for a professional to manage contracts within the Synergy Programme, enhancing partnerships with suppliers. The role involves leading a team, ensuring compliance, driving value for money, and liaising with various stakeholders. The ideal candidate will have experience in contract management and excellent communication skills, contributing to vital public services.

Responsibilities

• Leading and owning the contractual relationship between Synergy and Suppliers.
• Managing and maintaining excellent relationships with suppliers and stakeholders.
• Providing expert advice on contractual and performance matters.
• Leading a professional team to ensure engagement with suppliers.
• Working with commercial colleagues to ensure contract innovation.
• Managing financial forecasting of contracts.
• Leading specific high-risk projects and contract changes.
• Communicating effectively and managing risks.
• Providing leadership at governance forums.
• Overseeing contract documentation and performance evidence.

Job description

Overview

Do you want to be part of an energetic, innovative team and bring your skills to one of the biggest changes to the administration of the Civil Service in decades?

We’re looking for people who are flexible, intuitive and are comfortable taking high levels of volume, speed and complexity in their stride.

An exciting new role is available in the Synergy Programme, a cross-departmental group formed in response to Government Business Service’s request for individual departments to group together in ‘clusters’ to drive efficiencies, increase buying power and improve the quality of shared service to our end users – our people.

The Synergy Programme is the largest of five departmental clusters, comprising the Ministry of Justice, Department for Work and Pensions, Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Home Office. The Department for Work and Pensions hosts the Synergy Programme. Your work will impact Shared Services arrangements and support almost a quarter of a million officials and public servants across the four departments and arm’s length bodies who deliver some of the most vital public services in our country.

The success of the programme is crucial, as Civil Servants rely on shared services to provide business critical tools in human resources, finance, payroll and procurement. It affects everything we do, from joining a department as a new starter, the way we claim for expenses, how we buy goods and services such as our laptops and canteen provisions, to the way we receive our pensions when we retire.

Most importantly, we’re looking for applications from people who can also demonstrate a passion for our core ambition - delivering a once in a generation, transformed service that Civil Servants will use as a result of the Synergy Programme.

While no 2 days will be the same, your duties will include:

Responsibilities

• Leading and owning the contractual relationship between Synergy and Suppliers focusing on Business Process Services
• Leading by example in managing and maintaining excellent relationships with suppliers and stakeholders
• Providing expert advice and guidance on contractual and performance matters
• Leading, motivating and directing a professional team to ensure engagement with suppliers and other stakeholders leads to effective management of contracts.
• Working with commercial colleagues to ensure innovation on the contracts and ensuring value for money.
• Retaining overall responsibility for financial management of contracts, working with the Programme’s Finance Business Partner to ensure accurate and robust forecasts.
• As and when required, leading and managing specific high risk and value projects, such as major contract changes or contract extensions.
• Be an effective communicator who effectively manages risks and change.
• Provide leadership and representation at key governance forums, including monthly service reviews, quarterly commercial boards, and biannual exit readiness reviews. Oversee the maintenance of contract documentation and performance evidence in a structured SharePoint repository to ensure audit readiness.
• Work closely with commercial, Supplier Relationship Management, Finance, PMO, and Legal functions to ensure end-to-end contract delivery, assurance, and value for money.